Helen Skelton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Helen Skelton
Skelton in 2011
Born	Helen Elizabeth Skelton (1983-07-19) 19 July 1983 (age 41) Carlisle, Cumbria, England
Other names	Helen Skelton-Myler
Occupation	Television presenter
Years active	1999–present
Employer	BBC ITV
Television	Blue Peter (2008–13) Countryfile (2008—present) Holiday Hit Squad (2013–2014) The Instant Gardener (2015—2016) Lorraine (2016–2017) Big Week At the Zoo (2019—present) Friday on the Farm (2020-)
Spouse(s)	Richie Myler ​ ​ (m. 2013; separated 2022)​
Children	3
Relatives	Gavin Skelton (brother)

Helen Elizabeth Skelton (born 19 July 1983) is a well-known English television presenter. You might see her on BBC1's Morning Live.

Helen was a presenter on the popular BBC children's show Blue Peter from 2008 to 2013. Since 2014, she has also been a presenter on Countryfile. She has hosted other shows like Holiday Hit Squad and The Instant Gardener.

Helen's Early Life

Helen Skelton was born on 19 July 1983, in Carlisle, Cumbria, England. She grew up on a dairy farm in a village called Kirkby Thore. She went to the local primary school and then Appleby Grammar School.

Later, Helen studied journalism at the Cumbria Institute of the Arts. While she was at college, she worked as an extra on TV shows like Coronation Street. Helen has said that if she wasn't a TV presenter, she would love to be a teacher. Her brother, Gavin Skelton, was a professional footballer.

Helen's TV Career

Helen Skelton signing autographs in 2010

Starting Out in Media

After a short time working in public relations, Helen decided to focus on journalism. She worked in the newsroom at CFM Radio. She also worked on different shows at Border Television.

In 2005, she became a breakfast presenter on BBC Radio Cumbria. She was one of the youngest presenters to host a breakfast show on the BBC at that time. Helen then became a reporter and sometimes a presenter for the children's news show Newsround. She also worked on Sportsround, which was a sports show for kids.

Blue Peter and Beyond

Helen Skelton became a presenter on Blue Peter on 28 August 2008. She was the 33rd presenter for the famous children's programme. In August 2013, she announced she was leaving the show.

While on Blue Peter, Helen worked on other projects. She often reported from big events like the Championships, Wimbledon. After leaving Blue Peter, Helen started presenting live FA Women's Super League football matches for BT Sport. She also continued her reporting roles for the BBC.

Helen has presented parts of Countryfile since 2008. She also hosted two series of Holiday Hit Squad in 2013 and 2014. In 2014 and 2015, she presented the London Marathon Highlights show for the BBC.

In December 2012, Helen took part in a Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. Since 2015, she has co-presented The Instant Gardener with Danny Clarke. In 2016, she hosted coverage of the European Swimming Championships. She also worked for the BBC at the 2016 Summer Olympics, presenting swimming coverage.

Helen has also been a guest presenter on Lorraine on ITV. In 2022, she competed in the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional dancer Gorka Marquez and finished as a runner-up.

In 2023, Helen started voice-acting. She became the voice of a new character, farmer Annie Morris, in the children's animated series, Fireman Sam.

Writing and Radio

Helen Skelton has also written books. Her first novel, Amy Wild: Amazon Summer, came out in May 2015. She also wrote her autobiography, In My Stride, which was published in October 2023.

Helen used to host a weekly show on BBC Radio 5 Live. She also filled in as a co-host on the BBC Radio 5 Live Drive Time show. From August 2022 to August 2023, Helen presented BBC Radio 5 Live's morning show on Sundays.

Amazing Challenges

Helen Skelton is known for taking on incredible challenges for charity.

Wheelchair Dance

In December 2008, Helen won the Malta Open Dance Competition. Her partner was a 16-year-old wheelchair user. They beat 100 other dancers!

Ultra Marathons

In April 2009, Helen became only the second woman ever to finish a 78-mile ultra marathon in Namibia. She completed the tough run in 23 hours and 45 minutes. She said it was a "gruelling experience" but also "amazing". Helen has also completed the London Marathon three times: in 2009, 2014, and 2019.

Kayaking the Amazon

In early 2010, Helen kayaked the entire length of the River Amazon for Sport Relief 2010. She kayaked 2,010 miles on a solo trip. She started in Nauta, Peru, on 20 January and finished in Almeirim, Brazil, on 28 February.

Helen achieved two entries in the Guinness World Records for this challenge:

• The longest solo journey by kayak.
• The longest distance in a kayak in 24 hours by a woman.

Tightrope Walking

On 28 February 2011, Helen walked a 150-metre tightrope between chimneys at Battersea Power Station. This was 66 metres above the ground! She did this to raise money for Comic Relief. Blue Peter made two special shows about her amazing walk.

Journey to the South Pole

In 2012, Helen raised more money for Sport Relief by becoming the first person to reach the South Pole using a bicycle. The bike was specially made for her trip with wide tyres. She also used skis and a kite to help her pull a sled with 82 kg of supplies.

Helen covered 329 miles by kite ski, 103 miles by bike, and 68 miles by cross-country ski. She also set a world record for the fastest 100 km by kite ski, completing it in seven hours and 28 minutes. Blue Peter made five six-episode specials about this incredible journey.

Helen's Magnificent 7

In April 2013, Helen took on seven challenges for Comic Relief. She called these her "Magnificent 7". She even broke one world record during these challenges:

• Rugby Kick – Failed
• Performing In Two Shows In One Night – Succeeded
• Flying With the Red Arrows – Succeeded
• Photo Shoot – Succeeded
• Rope Bridge – Succeeded
• Longest Line of Bunting – Succeeded (a World Record at the time)
• Coin Toss – Failed

Sport Relief Boxing

In March 2018, Helen took part in a celebrity boxing match for the BBC's Sport Relief. She won her fight against Camilla Thurlow.

Helen's Family Life

In December 2013, Helen married England national rugby league team player Richie Myler. They had their first child, a boy, on 19 June 2015. In September 2015, they moved to France after Richie joined a new rugby club. Their second son was born in April 2017, and their third child, a daughter, was born in December 2021.

Helen announced in April 2022 that she and Richie were no longer together.

TV Shows and Appearances

Television

Guest appearances

• What's Cooking? (2013) – Guest
• Countdown (2013) – 'Dictionary Corner' guest
• The Chase: Celebrity Special (2013) – Contestant
• All Star Family Fortunes (2015) – Contestant
• Blue Peter (2015) – Guest
• The TV That Made Me (2015) – Subject
• Pointless Celebrities – Contestant
• Sunday Brunch (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019) – Guest
• The One Show (2023, 2025) – Guest

See also

• List of Blue Peter presenters
• List of Strictly Come Dancing contestants